Plagiocephaly

[tmahanes]

Ok so I have been researching this and am freaking out that B is going to need a band. If you have used one... which one was it?

Hanger is the closest to us that I can find anyone used this??

Thanks!!

[twowhat?]

We used DOC bands (Cranial Technologies). I think Hanger is the second most common. Results should be the same. It really ended up being no big deal for us.

[Carrots]

We used Hanger. I am very happy with the results. Has your pedi said anything to you about Plagio?

[tmahanes]

We used Hanger. I am very happy with the results. Has your pedi said anything to you about Plagio?

Last appt it was not bad and she said it would fix itself.... it has gotten soooooo much worse and we see her on Thurs for the next appointment so I was just trying to do some research before hand so I was informed. If he needs this it appears the earlier they wear it the easier it is on them.

[galvjen]

DS3 used a StarBand for ~4 months (6-10 months old). Excellent results. We were very compliant with the orthotists instructions. Insurance was the largest, initial hassle but thankfully it was covered.

[tmahanes]

That was going to be my next question.... Did your insurance cover it and did it take a lot of fighting?

[alien_host]

That was going to be my next question.... Did your insurance cover it and did it take a lot of fighting?

Our insurance covered it..100% I think, but that was 5 years ago and I can't recall the name of the band...it might not have been a "Brand name".. The earlier the better (less time in the band, potentially). PUSH your ped if you think DC needs it...some peds believe in the fixes itself, but IIRC the specialist we saw said it does not fix itself, it looks "less severe" as the head gets bigger but does not go away 100% on its own.

FWIW, my DD spent only 6 weeks in hers and it changed dramatically, although her's was mild to start it was a noticable difference after 6 weeks. She wore it from 4 months until just under 6 months. And I was a tyrant about it....wore it almost all the time with minimal breaks as they suggested.

BTW, does your ped think your child has torticollis (stiffening of the neck muscles that caused her to tilt her head to one side and only sleep on that side leading to plagio)? That's what contributed to my DD's plagio.

Good luck...feel free to PM me or post here if you have other questions.

[tmahanes]

His actually looks more like the brachiocephaly... his flat spot is more in the center than one side or the other. I really want to get this dealt with as soon as possible. In the past 2 months it has really gotten worse IMO.

I have been trying to do as much tummy time as possible but he HATES it and will start screaming after just a few minutes! He is still only sitting with support and just likes to be on his back so he can see everything going on!! :shake:

[twowhat?]

Ours had to wear their DOC bands for 12 weeks, starting at 4 months of age. Our insurance at the time (Aetna) covered it 80%. But they stated that therapy must begin AFTER 4 months of age. I think they figure that's a good age at which baby will probably start sitting up within the next couple of months, which contributes to being sure the plagio doesn't get worse after they finish wearing the helmets.

Cranial Technologies does free assessments - I don't know about Hanger but I would definitely call to ask - if so you can go in and they can show you how to stretch your baby's neck to encourage movement in all directions. Our girls weren't fazed at all when we first put on their DOC bands - slept well the first night and everything! The biggest pain was cleaning them, but even that wasn't a big deal once we got a routine down. The FUN was decorating them:)

[mom2MandC]

We had a band from a local orthopedist who was recommended by our pedi- pretty good results, but kind of wish we used Cranial Tech. We did have to fight our insurance (Atena) for over 8 months to get any $ back, I believe this is because we didn't use cranial tech- so definitely check with your insurance.
I also agree that the earlier you start the quicker you will be done because the head just grows so much faster when they are younger. I was upset about the band, but my daughter wasn't fazed by it either.
Good Luck- there is a plagiocephaly yahoo group who was very helpful and knowledgeable about every brand of band (in many different locations), so some one may be able to give you better information for your specific area. I remember some people had great experiences with hanger- others said they just couldn't get the band to fit properly.

[tmahanes]

Thanks! I tried to join the yahoo group and it is not working right now so I will check later.

What all did you do during the day? B doesn't really like the Bumbo for too long (any more than 10 minutes and he is done) and we don't have an exersaucer yet (but aren't you supposed to limit time to like 30 min a day). He will sit with the boppy around him but then can't sit back up after reaching for a toy.

What other options for supported sitting are there?

[KHF]

DD had a Hanger band for 3 months (from age 6 months to 9 months) and had wonderful correction. We are lucky enough to be in the Cincinnati area where Cincinnati Children's is. They have a plagio clinic, and the doctor we used was actually in the process of developing his own band.

Our band was completely covered by insurance (Anthem) with no begging involved. They just covered it. We did have some fit issues, but they worked with us until they were all worked out.

Definitely follow-up and get more opinions. DD had plagio as a result of torticollis. If I had listened to my gut and gotten physical therapy for her early on (they diagnosed tort at one month, but told me to do the exercises with her) then we wouldn't have had to deal with the helmet. I finally hit upon a ped at our group that took one look and said, "Yep, she's going to need a helmet and PT."

I'm happy to say that she has a lovely round head now!

The Yahoo group was a wonderful resource for us during that time. If it helps...it was much harder on us than it was on DD. She doesn't remember anything about it. Feel free to contact me with any questions you might have.

ETA: We used a Bumbo some, and an exersaucer sparingly, but mostly it was tummy time...and lots of it. The Boppy was also good for both tummy time and when she was laying on her back. It took the pressure off her head. We also got an egg crate (thin one) mattress cover from Walmart and cut it to fit her crib. That one is all up to your comfort level though. We had a Colgate Classica foam mattress that is super firm, and we think it helped take some of the pressure off her head on her flat spots.

We also used a rolled up flannel blanket and used it as a bumper to keep her up on her side a bit while sleeping so she wouldn't sleep on the flat spot.

With DS, I watched his head like a hawk and made sure to watch for torticollis and other signs. Thankfully, he had none and didn't need the helmet! But, he also spent almost no time on one spot either. I was so paranoid about a flat spot, I moved him all the time.

[brittone2]

PPs had lots of helpful info. I would 2nd the suggestion to make sure tort is ruled out as well. Many peds do not pick up on tort unless it is a more extreme/obvious case IME. Tort and plagio will often go hand in hand.

[army_mom]

DD had torticollis and plagio, only diagnosed because I asked for a referral to a physical therapist due to her always looking one way. Ped said it would get better...but I insisted on the referral so we moved forward through the PT.
DD had a STARband from 8 months to 12 months. (guess my picture is a little outdated!). Insurance didn't cover any of it-it was specifically stated in the policy it wouldn't cover any of it. :banghead: DD did really well with it and didn't mind it at all. Hardest part was probably trying to get it on and off the first few weeks. And driving the hour+ each way to appointments. Didn't interfere with her hair growth nor her sleep schedule (although DD is a fantastic sleeper anyway).
Someone even asked us when we were out shopping where DD got her helmet...they thought it was a fashion accessory! :ROTFLMAO:

[hobie]

I have been trying to do as much tummy time as possible but he HATES it and will start screaming after just a few minutes! He is still only sitting with support and just likes to be on his back so he can see everything going on!! :shake:

Have you tried wearing your baby more often? Wearing your baby counts as tummy time. Get a good carrier (not bjorn) and give it a try.

[KHF]

DD hated tummy time too, but the Boppy helped a lot. She wasn't flat on her back...we would put her knees up under her so she was almost kneeling against the Boppy. I have yet to meet a baby that actually likes tummy time but they'll get used to it.

We tried babywearing and used it some, but neither one of my kids really took to it. I tried mei tais, ergos, mei hip. The only one that DD tolerated was the mei hip.

[brittone2]

Nak-
there are lots of ways to modify tummy time. You can sit on the floor with your legs extended straight out in front of you (knees straight) and put baby tummy down across your lap (baby's bodyperpendicular to your legs). You can use your hands to hold toys or a mirror for baby to look in. Or have a spouse or child's sibling lay on the floor facing baby to entertain. You can also lift one leg up slightly on your body so that baby's head/trunk are slightly higher than baby's torso. This makes it easier to lift their head to look around.

You can do short bursts. Try for a minute or two of tummy time after each diaper change. As baby gets stronger, most likely baby will tolerate longer periods of time. Try to do short bursts many times a day at first.

wearing your baby is good for relieving pressure too as a PP said.

[tmahanes]

Thanks! I am working up to longer times but even in things like the boppy he gets mad and wants to be on his back!! He is VERY stubborn! Just like his Daddy! :ROTFLMAO:

[boltfam]

You've gotten a lot of great advice already. I would second the rec of babywearing if your DC will tolerate it. I wanted to send you :hug: because DS had tort and plagio and I know how hard it can be on mommy.

[tmahanes]

Thanks!! Honestly between us holding and cuddling and living with ILs B gets lots and lots of holding time!! :loveeyes: Maybe too much! I have a Baby K'tan that I love and he likes too so I will try and use that more when we are out.

I think our biggest problem is that he is an AWESOME sleeper and has been STTN since about 8-10 weeks or so and currently sleeps almost 10-11 hours at night. He sleeps the same way now matter how I face him in the crib. He pretty much looks straight ahead at the ceiling and if I turn his head to one side or the other he turns it back straight. He does this during nap time too.

[twowhat?]

It really sounds like you're dealing with torticollis where the muscles on BOTH sides of his neck are tightened. The only way to fix this is to stretch out those muscles so that is it comfortable for him to turn his head one way or the other while he sleeps. You definitely need to look into PT so they can show you how to do the neck stretches. Other things you can try for now:

Put a mirror on one side of the changing table to encourage him to turn his head and look in it. While he turns his head, gently stabilize his chest and place you hand over his cheek to encourage an even deeper stretch. Alternate sides with the mirror.

When he's laying down to play, put the toys on the floor on one side or the other to encourage him to look to the side rather than up at toys hanging over him

just basically try to encourage him to look one way or the other. Cranial tech showed us a great way to stretch the neck - you basically hold baby in your arms as if you were giving him a hug - turn his head to one side and place it on your chest right on the shoulder just above the armpit and then "give him a hug" - hold the body with one arm while you gently hold the head with the other hand and get as good a stretch in as possible. Hold for a count of 10 and repeat twice. Then switch sides. Do this at least 5X a day. This was the easiest stretch of all to do because our kids loved to be held and sometimes we'd do it standing sideways in front of a mirror so we could entertain baby by making faces, etc. We could dance/sway/sing while doing this too, as long as you're holding the body and head still (no bouncing the stretch).